Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.
Food and drink are among the greatest daily blessings Allah gives His servants. Part of complete gratitude for this blessing is that the Muslim begins eating and drinking with the remembrance of Allah and ends with praising Him. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught his nation simple manners with deep meanings: they protect the heart from heedlessness, nurture gratitude, and prevent Satan from sharing in one’s food and drink.
Because food and drink are renewed blessings. Remembering Allah before them and praising Him after them connects the heart to the Giver of blessings, turns a daily habit into worship and gratitude, and protects the Muslim from heedlessness and from Satan’s share.
When a Muslim wants to eat or drink, he mentions Allah’s name. This is among the greatest manners of eating, and it contains seeking Allah’s help and thanking Him for His blessing.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to 'Umar ibn Abi Salamah, may Allah be pleased with them both: “Young boy, mention Allah’s name, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you.” Agreed upon.
If a Muslim forgets to say Bismillah at the beginning of the meal, then remembers while eating, he says this wording.
Narrated by Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhi, and authenticated or graded hasan by a number of scholars.
From the guidance of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is that the Muslim eats and drinks with his right hand and avoids eating and drinking with the left, because Satan eats and drinks with his left.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When one of you eats, let him eat with his right hand, and when he drinks, let him drink with his right hand, for Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.” Narrated by Muslim.
This is one of the reported adhkar after eating. It acknowledges that food is provision from Allah alone, not because of the servant’s own power or strength.
Narrated by Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah, and graded hasan by a number of scholars.
A Muslim may praise Allah with any lawful wording, and the simplest of that is to say: Alhamdulillah.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allah is pleased with the servant who eats a meal and praises Him for it, or drinks a drink and praises Him for it.” Narrated by Muslim.
A Muslim supplicates for the one who showed kindness to him through food or drink. This is part of thanking people and praying for good for them.
Narrated by Muslim.
This is a comprehensive supplication for the one who fed or honored the guest. It gathers blessing, forgiveness, and mercy.
Narrated by Muslim.
| Situation | Dhikr or Manner | Repetition | Brief Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before food and drink | Bismillah | Once | Al-Bukhari and Muslim |
| If the basmalah is forgotten | Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu | Once when remembered | Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhi |
| During food and drink | Eating and drinking with the right hand | Always | Muslim |
| After food | Alhamdulillah alladhi at'amani hadha... | Once | Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah |
| After food or drink | Alhamdulillah | Once or more | Muslim |
| For the one who fed or gave drink | Allahumma at'im man at'amani... | Once | Muslim |
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, never criticized food. If he desired it, he ate it, and if he disliked it, he left it. Agreed upon.
Say: “Bismillah.”
When you remember, say: “Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu.”
Praise Allah. One of the reported wordings is: “All praise is for Allah who fed me this and provided it for me without any power or strength from me.”
Yes. It is permissible to say: “Alhamdulillah.” If you say the reported wordings, that is more complete.
The adhkar of food and drink are easy, but they nurture gratitude in the Muslim and connect the blessing to the One who gave it. So the Muslim should be careful to say Bismillah before food and drink, eat with the right hand, and praise Allah after finishing.